Botanica Medallion complete!
It's hard to walk away when you're in love! *sigh* Even though I've had so many other things on the go lately I just had to keep working away on the Botanica Medallion. I found I didn't have any real trouble with it so long as I didn't try to do anything else while knitting - like watch a movie or listen to anyone trying to talk to me (ahem!). There was just one problem I encountered with the pattern - there is no definition for the abbreviation "SK2P" which appears in every 2nd round for the 2nd half of the entire Medallion pattern. I eventually looked in a Vogue Knitting book I have that had "SK1P" in it which gave me some idea and after 2 incorrect stitch counts I figured out "SK2P" means "slip 2 stitches, Knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over". I still thought it was pretty annoying that the definition wasn't included in the magazine. Another "rip 'n cry" for inexperienced knitters trying this pattern! (I suppose I should have gone online and looked for errata but I didn't think of that until much later - d'uh!) Anyways, I worked the pattern to the end and then decided to lay it out and measure it before deciding if it needed to be bigger....
It took on a rather bizarre conical shape while on the needles! I knit the last round onto two sets of 36" circulars. I figured it would be easier than trying to thread it onto waste yarn and then threading it back onto needles. Turned out I was right!
I pinned it out with T-pins on a bed. The top looks a bit wonky because the one set of circs has a stiff curl. I pinned it on a dark background so the pattern would show - unfortunately it also shows how the fabric isn't quite as dense as I would have liked it. Cotton has a nasty habit of sagging when worn - something I hope the Linen in this blend will help with - and I'm concerned that when it gets worn this Medallion will look more lacy than it already does! Anyone who is doing this pattern or has done it, will notice I modified one thing; in the center of each petal there is a group of eyelets and where it stops it's supposed to all be purl stitches. I made one knit stitch row down the middle to add a bit of interest and I think it turned out quite nice! Anyways, the petal ends and then you're supposed to cast off. I measured and found it needed to be about 2" wider, meaning knit a further 1". I decided that rather than introduce a textured stitch, I'd just keep going with the established pattern of yarn over increases and decreases. It turned out just fine and I'm so glad I did it! Now the medallion is the right size and it looks like it's just the original design.
I'm getting ready to cast on the outer rim but I am definitely going to add some extra textured stitch repeats to make it the right width. I have decided to use 3.5mm needles to tighten up the fabric so extra stitches are going to be necessary! I'm still loving this pattern! The Medallion actually knit up fairly fast but I'm thinking the outer band is going to take a long time and since our summer's half over already I'm not exepecting to get it finished in time to wear this year. I guess it's a bit like farming... that's "next year country"
Cheers all! Hope you're summer's going great!
It took on a rather bizarre conical shape while on the needles! I knit the last round onto two sets of 36" circulars. I figured it would be easier than trying to thread it onto waste yarn and then threading it back onto needles. Turned out I was right!
I'm getting ready to cast on the outer rim but I am definitely going to add some extra textured stitch repeats to make it the right width. I have decided to use 3.5mm needles to tighten up the fabric so extra stitches are going to be necessary! I'm still loving this pattern! The Medallion actually knit up fairly fast but I'm thinking the outer band is going to take a long time and since our summer's half over already I'm not exepecting to get it finished in time to wear this year. I guess it's a bit like farming... that's "next year country"
Cheers all! Hope you're summer's going great!
Posted by Gloria Patre at 7/11/2009 5:27 PM 
Categories: Sweaters
Tags: circular sweater Botanica Medallion Cardigan cotton
Categories: Sweaters
Tags: circular sweater Botanica Medallion Cardigan cotton
It looks good! I just finished my medallion yesterday. Started the outer rim today, and have so much issues with it... I am googling to find what other knitters have to say about out, otherwise, I swear, I am going to pick my own patterns for the rim.
Do you know that there were typos in the original pattern (as published in Vogue Knitting)? The corrections are posted on Ravelry.
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SK1P - thank goodness I have found a definition for it. Thank you!
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Believe me Julia - I feel your pain!! There's nothing like well explained instructions, eh? Only too glad to help! Cheers!
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